2015 Women’s World Cup host cities set, Sounders Women roll

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It’s still far afield, but the complexion of the 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup is beginning to take shape.

Sepp Blatter was in Ottawa on Friday to announce the tournament’s six host venues. The selected cities are Edmonton, Montreal, Ottawa, Vancouver, Winnipeg, and Moncton.

Vancouver’s B.C. Place is said to be in the frame to host the final. Toronto was not part of the application process, as the city will host the 2015 Pan-American Games.

It wouldn’t be a proper Sepp Blatter appearance without a bombastic statement, and the FIFA President didn’t disappoint. Blatter said the 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup will be a massive event for Canada, adding it could have a “bigger social, cultural impact than the Olympic Games. [It] has a greater legacy than the Olympic Games. Women’s football opens the borders all over the world. This is the social, cultural, value of our game. Football is the school of life.”

Possible hyperbole aside, Canada does have a tradition of showing vociferous support for women’s soccer. A record 47,784 attendees were on hand to watch the home side fall to the U.S. in the 2002 FIFA U-19 Women’s World Cup final.

Last March, Canada was awarded hosting rights to the seventh edition of the FIFA Women’s World Cup. The tournament will feature an unprecedented 24-team field, up from the 16 that had competed in the previous four Women’s World Cups.

The host team will undoubtedly have redemption on their minds. Canada bowed out in the group stage of the 2011 Women’s World Cup in humiliating fashion after three consecutive losses. New Zealand boss John Herdman assumed the reins following a messy divorce between former coach Carolina Morace and the Canadian Soccer Association.

The 2011 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Germany elevated the women’s game to heights unreached since 1999. Canada’s attempt at making another lasting impression begins in earnest now.

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Hope Solo alert! Alex Morgan alert! Megan Rapinoe alert! In other WoSo news from the day gone by, the star-studded Seattle Sounders Women downed the University of Washington 3-1 to round out its ad hoc exhibition season. The team will begin its USL W-League campaign May 27 away against the Vancouver Whitecaps. Video.

Cecilio Dominguez and Mateus Uribe each bagged a brace, and Renato Ibarra also scored as the tournament’s top team sauntered into and out of Costa Rica on Wednesday. Club America has been to seven CCL finals, and one every single one.

West Ham United will pay a visit to Dag & Red as part of the latter’s #SaveTheDaggers campaign, and the March 21 date will cost fans between $7 and $21 to see a top flight side at 6,000-seat Victoria Road.

“So please come on down to the Chigwell Construction Stadium for an additional night of football. Bring a friend, or two, or more and we can use the gate takings to help get us back on track,” reads a press release.

Dag & Red was founded in 1992 and climbed as high as League One in 2011, and plays just 2.5 miles from West Ham United’s training ground. Newcastle’s Matt Ritchie and Dwight Gayle are among Dag & Red alums in the Premier League.

It’s a terrific gesture from West Ham, and is even more impressive in the United States where the growing club game is increasingly cutthroat (especially between non-synced leagues).

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AS Roma manager Eusebio Di Francesco absolutely roasted his charges after i Lupi tossed aside a Cenzig Under-inspired lead to fall 2-1 at Shakhtar Donetsk in the first leg of their UEFA Champions League Round of 16 tie on Wednesday.

Di Francesco had praise for Edin Dzeko, who assisted Under’s goal, as well as goalkeeper Alisson, but was mostly enraged by his side.

4) “The difference was that in the first half we tried to hurt them while in the second we were looking to hold on – to what? I don’t know.”

— “To what? I don’t know” is hilarious. Di Francesco’s side has posted some serious wins this season, including killing off Chelsea 3-0 at home and coming back from 2-0 to draw the Blues at Stamford Bridge. He doesn’t preach sitting back.

3) “There were far too many schoolboy errors – even by players with a wealth of international experience.”

— Schoolboy errors!

2) “I saw two completely different teams out there today. There were lots of players I should have taken off after we conceded the first goal.”

— Again, one mistake by a number of players on Facundo Ferreyra is enough for Di Francesco. He’s not just happy to be here.

1) “I can’t imagine we’d get arrogant just because we’re winning an important game. It’s not as if Roma are used to reaching the final every year.”

— When you’re willing to essentially rip an entire club’s history — Roma’s been to just two UCL quarterfinals since losing the final to Liverpool in 1984 — you’re putting your footprints in new cement.

Salzburg’s two away goals in a draw feels like a one-goal lead, and the one-goal matches are especially interesting. In the case of Atalanta, 1-0 to the Serie A side could undo Michy Batshuayi‘s first leg heroics for BVB.